Pencil attachment



Dec. 26, 1950 1 c. VAN BENSCHOTEN 2,535,823

PENCIL ATTACHMENT [NJ/ENTHE 9 10127 Z. [4415! BENS'DHUTEZSZ Filed Oct. 5, 1948 [2 115 Z2 TUHNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l'Claim. 1

This invention relates to a pencil attachment and it is one object of the invention to provide a device adapted to be detachably applied to a pencil and serve as a carrier for an eraser, crayon, or the like which is progressively expelled from the rear end of the carrier as it is worn away during use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pencil attachment consisting of inner and outer tubes in telescoping engagement with each other, the inner tube being of appreciably greater length than the outer tube and having its rear end split to form resilient tongues or fingers which are brought into gripping engagement with the eraser or crayon when the outer tube or sleeve is slid longitudinally along the inner tube or tubular body of the carrier towards the rear end thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carrier of this type wherein the pencil and the eraser are fitted into the tubular body from opposite ends thereof and separated from each other by a plug or filler which is slidable longitudinally through the body and serves as a backing for the eraser.

Another object of the invention is to so form the plug or filler that it has frictional gripping engagement with the body and is thus prevented from sliding too freely through the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction and may be manufactured at low cost.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of a special construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a view in elevation showin the improved attachment applied to a pencil.

Figure 2 is a view showing the pencil in elevation and the attachment in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing the position of the attachment upon the pencil when the eraser or crayon is almost entirely worn away by use.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing the fingers of the tubular body out of gripping engagement with the eraser.

Figure 5 is a view looking down upon the rear end of the attachment.

This improved carrier constitutes an attachment for a pencil l which is of a conventional length and diameter. The tubular body 2 of the attachment fits snugly about the pencil and projects from the rear end thereof, the front end of the body being rolled outwardly to form a bead 3 and the rear end portion thereof being formed with circumferentially spaced slits which divide the said rear end of the body into tongues or fingers 4. These fingers occupy the entire circumference of the tubular body, as shown in Figure 5, and have their rear portions curved longitudinally to form bowed jaws having their rear ends presented inwardly for tight gripping engagement with an eraser, crayon, or equivalent filler 5. The tubular body is formed of resilient metal and when its fingers 4 are pressed inwardly from the normal position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figures 2 and 3 they will have tight biting engagement with the filler at all points about its circumference and the filler cannot slip out of the body.

In order to move the fingers or jaws 4 inwardly and hold them in this gripping or operative position there has been provided a sleeve 6 which is formed of sheet metal and of such diameter that it fits snugly about the tubular body. This sleeve has its end portions rolled outwardly to form heads I which prevent a persons fingers from slipping off of the sleeve when the sleeve is slid along the body, the bead at the rear end of the sleeve also serving to prevent the sleeve from being split by wedging force when the sleeve is moved into overlapping engagement with the fingers 4 and forces the fingers into gripping engagement with the filler 5.

During use of the carrier the tubular body is slid longitudinally upon the pencil and the eraser fitted into the body with a portion projecting from the rear end thereof. As the eraser is worn away by use the sleeve is slid forwardly out of compressing engagement with the fingers and the body slid forwardly along the pencil to force the eraser rearwardly out of the body to such an extent that it may be conveniently used, the sleeve being then slid rearwardly until it again has compressing engagement with the fingers and forces them into gripping engagement with the eraser. It is desired to prevent the pencil from having direct contact with the front end of the eraser and in order to do so there has been provided a plug or block 8 which is formed of sheet metal and has its end portions 9 formed with circumferentially extending ribs. This plug fits snugly in the tubular body and its ribs cause it to have sumcient frictional grip with the body to prevent it from sliding freely in the body. Therefore, when the pencil or the eraser is removed, the plug will not slip out of the body. When the eraser has been worn away to such an extent that it is almost entirely used the rear portion of the plug is disposed in the slitted rear end portion of the bodyand serves as a firm support for the eraser and also as a backing for the fingers, and the fingers or jaws cannot be pressed inwardly without their curved ends having tight gripping engagement with the eraser.

When the eraser is worn away to such an extent that it can no longer be used the sleeve is shifted forwardly out of engagement with the fingers which then spring outwardly to the inoperative position shown in Figure l and the pencil withdrawn from the front end of the body to such an extent that the plug may be shifted forwardly as a new eraser is applied and move the plug forwardly as it is thrust into the rear end of the carrier, the sleeve being then again shifted rearwardly into compressing engagement with the fingers.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device, the operation thereof and the method of assembly will be readily understood, and it will be seen that I have provided a comparatively simple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the various objects of the invention.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is apparent that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A pencil attachment comprising a tubular body of even diameter throughout its length open at its front end for reception of a pencil and having its rear end opening for reception of an eraser,

said body being formed with longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced slits leading from its rear end and defining fingers about the entire circumference of the rear end of the body, said body being formed of resilient material and the fingers being normally flared outwardly radially of the body and having their free rear end portions curved longitudinally to form outwardly bowed jaws having their free ends presented inwardly, an elongated tubular sleeve of less length than the body fitting snugly about said body and slidablelongitudinally along the body into overlapping engagement with the fingers for applying compressing pressure and holding the jaws in grippin engagement with the eraser, and a plug fitting snugly in said body between the eraser and the rear end of the pencil and slidable longitudinally in the body, said plug having opposite end portions formed with circumferentially extending ribs frictionally engaging the wall of the body and preventing free sliding of the plug through the body.

LLOYD C. VAN BENSCl-IOTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 699,743 Brownell May 13, 1902 703,229 Boman June 24, 1902 806,235 Bowen Dec. 5, 1905 1,176,909 Lane Mar. 28, 1916 1,379,608 Bailey May 31, 1921 2,369,047 Hasselquist Feb. 6, 1945 

